NIT and pro write up's

Temple 138
Memphis -4½
Scheduled Start Time: 4:00pm (Pacific Time)
Interesting NIT semi-final matchup from Madison Square Garden, NY. Coaches John Calipari and Jon Chaney don't like each other, since Calipari's UMass teams used to beat up on Chaney's Temple clubs. The two even squared off in a heated post-game argument in a bizarre 1992 press conference where Chaney screamed, "I'll get you!" at Calipari and had to be restrained. The teams met earlier this year and Calipari's team won by 10 points. Temple is on a roll, going 8-1 SU/7-2 ATS the last 9 games. David Hawkins scored 16 points and Kevin Lyde added 12 as Temple had a 63-57 triumph over Big Five rival Villanova. The Owls (18-14) won without point guard and leading scorer Lynn Greer, who sprained his right ankle in the previous round against Louisville. "We're in this tournament to win, not just to be in it," Hawkins said. "It's very important to us, especially the guys who will be back next year. Brian Polk, who came off the bench to contribute 10 points. Greer, who averaged better than 23 points per game for the Owls this season, remains questionable for the NIT semifinal at Madison Square Garden. "I don't know. I know he says to me 'I feel pretty good.' He's walking around without the crutches. That's a quick recovery," Owls coach John Chaney said. "It's not something you play around with. This kid to me has earned his place [in the NBA] somewhere from his play all year. ... I wouldn't take a chance on playing him and ruining that kid's chances." Memphis is 25-9 SU, 20-11 ATS and nipped Tennessee Tech 79-73 as an 11-point favorite. Dajuan Wagner scored 19 points, and Scooter McFadgon had 16 of his 18 in the second half to lead Memphis to a 79-73 victory over Tennessee Tech. McFadgon went 6-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-8 on 3-pointers, and keyed the Tigers' second-half comeback. Antonio Burks scored 15 for Memphis, while Chris Massie had 14 points and 18 rebounds. The Memphis Tigers beat the Temple Owls 64-54 this season, and with the rivalry and Greer's injury, should do it again.
Projected Score: Memphis 72, Temple 58
Injury Report

So Carolina -2
Syracuse 126½
Scheduled Start Time: 6:30pm (Pacific Time)
National Invitational Tournament semifinal game from Madison Square Garden, New York. South Carolina doesn't have a lot of offensive weapons, but they are getting hot at the right time (5-1 SU/ATS run) and know how to play defense, outscoring teams by a 67-60 average this season. The 60 points allopwed was the best in the SEC. And you don't have to tell Ball State about the Game@#$% defense, as they traild 48-12 at the half! Jamel Bradley scored 17 points as South Carolina took a 36-point halftime lead and coasted to an 82-47 win over Ball State. Bradley nearly outscored the Cardinals singlehandedly in the first 20 minutes as the Game@#$%s raced out to a 48-12 halftime advantage. Chuck Eidson netted 15 points and Carlos Powell added 15 in 20 minutes for South Carolina (21-14), which held Ball State to 15.5 percent shooting (5-of-2)7 in the opening half. Tony Kitchings had 12 points and eight rebounds and Marius Petravicius added 10 points as the Game@#$%s shot 50 percent (30-of-60) from the field and hit 17-of-18 free throws. Ball State shot 30 percent (16-of-54) from the field, including 3-of-20 from 3-point range. 23-11 Syracuse is 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS after an 0-4 run. Syracuse can play 'D', too, as they shut down Richmond in a 62-46 win. The Orangemen outscored the Spiders 32-10 in the paint. Freshmen Hakim Warrick and Josh Pace were big keys for Syracuse, with Warrick scoring 15 points and grabbing 14 rebounds and Pace adding 10 points. Syracuse (23-11) won its third straight game to advance to the semifinals in New York, continuing a turnaround that started after the Orangemen were snubbed by the NCAA Tournament for only the fifth time in Jim Boeheim's 26 seasons as coach after losing nine of 13. Syracuse is much closer to home and is playing with a lot of pride and fire.
Projected Score: Syracuse 68, So Carolina 59

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NSS NBA write-ups inside

Basketball Picks for 03/26/2002

DEN Nuggets 188½
WAS Wizards -10½
Scheduled Start Time: 4:05pm (Pacific Time)
Denver played at New York on Monday. Denver snapped a seven-game losing streak on Saturday as it held the SuperSonics without a basket over the final 7:05. But the Nuggets have lost 16 of 22 games since the All-Star break. Antonio McDyess, is out with a knee injury after having played just 10 games in his return from surgery. The Nuggets also learned following Saturday's 88-85 home win over Seattle that veteran guard Tim Hardaway will miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury. Hardaway was averaging 9.6 points and 5.5 assists. With Hardaway out, George McCloud is expected to start at point guard. Michael Jordan committed a costly turnover and missed a potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer as the Toronto Raptors beat the Wizards 92-91 Sunday. Jordan, playing his third game since returning from knee surgery, had 14 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Richard Hamilton led Washington with 21 points. The Nuggets come off the game on Monday with the Knicks and continue to have bad luck and have now lost Hardaway for the season. The Wizards have their leader getting stronger every day and with the home nets should get a breather on Tuesday.
Projected Score: WAS Wizards 97, DEN Nuggets 90
Matchup Report
Injury Report

DET Pistons 186
IND Pacers -2
Scheduled Start Time: 4:05pm (Pacific Time)
Ben Wallace set an NBA season high with 28 rebounds, scored 13 points and b****ed six shots as the Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics 109-101 Sunday. The Pistons are showing no signs of slowing down the momentum they began to pick up two months ago. They have won 22 of 30 games, and five of six. Jerry Stackhouse had 30 points, eight assists and eight rebounds and Cliff Robinson had 20 points and seven assists. Chucky Atkins added 17 for Detroit, which kept its comfortable lead in the Central Division and stayed close to New Jersey for the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Charlotte Hornets beat Indiana 99-84 Sunday and moved past the Pacers (H: 20-13 SU. 15-17 ATS) in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Reggie Miller led the Pacers with 24 points. Jermaine O'Neal had 23 points and 11 rebounds. O'Neal went 8-for-24 from the floor, and the Pacers shot 34 percent. Indiana's Brad Miller sat out with a sore left groin. The Pacers lost two to the Hornets in the past (home and away) week and just when they started playing defense the carpet got pulled out from under them. The Pistons are rolling along and have their sights set on the Nets for the Eastern Conference best record. The Pistons have Big Mo-mentum working right now and it’s hard to go against Big Mo.
Projected Score: DET Pistons 104, IND Pacers 100

Matchup Report
Injury Report

No line available at this time.
CHI Bulls
ORL Magic
Scheduled Start Time: 4:35pm (Pacific Time)
Atlanta beat the Chicago (R: 4-30 SU, 17-16 ATS) Bulls 112-96 Saturday night. Jalen Rose's 26 points led Chicago, which has lost 11 of 12 and fell to 4-30 on the road. The Bulls never led, but an inside basket from Rose made it 86-82 with 10:43 remaining. Eddy Curry had 15 points, all in the first half, and eight rebounds for Chicago. Bulls guard Travis Best, who was 2-for-13, has made just five of his last 27 attempts from the field. Glenn Robinson had 25 points and 10 rebounds as the Bucks broke a four-game losing streak by beating the undermanned Magic 110-85 Sunday. The Central Division champions last year had lost six of seven and fallen to fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks shot 62.3 percent through three quarters to build the lead as high as 27. Orlando played without the injured Tracy McGrady and two other top scorers, then lost Troy Hudson in the third quarter after he took a hard spill. The Magic (H: 22-11 SU, 18-14 ATS) played without Mike Miller (15.8 points a game), who is out with a sprained ankle, and Grant Hill (16.8 points a game), who has missed most of the season following ankle surgery. McGrady is expected back on Tuesday for Orlando and that will give the Magic the lift they need on Tuesday to hypnotize the Bulls.
Projected Score: ORL Magic 95, CHI Bulls 88
Matchup Report
Injury Report

No line available at this time.
NJ Nets
ATL Hawks
Scheduled Start Time: 4:35pm (Pacific Time)
Kenyon Martin picked up his sixth flagrant foul of the season in the Nets' 116-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, and it put a damper on any thought of celebrating either the winning streak or being on the verge of their first postseason berth since 1997-98. Martin got this flagrant for throwing an elbow at the face of Shareef Abdur-Rahim with 9:06 left in the game. Martin was going up for a shot and he appeared to be fouled by Abdur-Rahim. If the call is upheld, Martin will have eight flagrant-foul points, mandating a two-game suspension. Abdur-Rahim hit both free throws after the flagrant and then scored in the lane to give the Hawks a 91-90 lead. Kidd, 1-for-10 from the field in the first half, then took over, hitting consecutive 3-pointers to ignite a 24-7 spurt that put the game away. Kidd had 19 of his 22 points in the second half, and he added 15 assists. Kerry Kittles also had 22 points, and Martin 16 as the Nets had seven players score in double figures. Jason Terry added 17 points for Hawks, who had a three-game winning streak snapped in losing for only the second time in eight games. Nets center Todd MacCulloch played for the first time since going on the injured list on Feb. 21 with plantar fascitis. The Nets were 8-8 without him. The Nets are 29-6 at home this season. Atlanta is 8-4 this month. The Hawks are 9-27 on the road and the Nets are playing well and when Martin sits down, Kidd will step it up.
Projected Score: NJ Nets 99, ATL Hawks 96
Matchup Report
Injury Report

DAL Mavericks 212½
MIL Bucks PK
Scheduled Start Time: 5:05pm (Pacific Time)
The Maverick-machine keeps rolling along. Dallas has been a big money-maker this season, at 38-28 ATS and they're even tough on the road: 21-11 SU, 20-11 ATS. The Mavericks took care of the Grizzlies with a 111-100 victory Saturday night. Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points, and Michael Finley added 13. Wang Zhizhi had a career-high 18 points, and Steve Nash scored 13 points for the Mavericks, who've won eight of 11 overall. Wang hit all four 3-point attempts and went 7-for-9 from the field in his best game since arriving from China last season. Mavericks coach Don Nelson was able to rest his starters in the second half. All 11 Dallas players who got into the game scored, with the reserves contributing 47 points. Dallas is 46-23 in games OVER the total this season and 14-5 ATS as a road favorite. Milwaukee is in a rut, on a 1-6 SU/1-5-1 ATS run. Milwaukee has lost four games in a row and six of seven. On Friday, the Bucks held an early 13-point lead but were thrashed by New Jersey, 108-84. Sam Cassell had 18 points and Ray Allen 16 for Milwaukee, which played without Glenn Robinson (bruised tailbone) and Tim Thomas (sprained right knee). The healthy and rested visitors will roll.
Projected Score: DAL Mavericks 120, MIL Bucks 104
Matchup Report
Injury Report

GST Warriors 209
MIN T'wolves -11
Scheduled Start Time: 5:05pm (Pacific Time)
Not a good spot for the visitors. The Warriors are 6-28 SU, 15-19 ATS on the road and are on an 0-9 SU/3-6 ATS run. They'vd given up over 110 points in 7 of the last 8 games. Minnesota isn't much better, on a 2-8 SU/1-9 ATS run! They also may be in a foul mood after blowing a 10-point lead and losing a key home game to Portland, 108-99. Wally Szczerbiak finished with 20 points and Kevin Garnett had 23 points to lead the Timberwolves, who have lost eight of 10, including six of their last seven at home -- their worst home stretch since the 1995-96 season. "We've got to stay aggressive, and that means going to the basket," a dejected Garnett said. There's not better way to end a losing streak in style than against the Warriors' poor defense.
Projected Score: MIN T'wolves 118, GST Warriors 102
Matchup Report
Injury Report

HOU Rockets 189
UTH Jazz -7
Scheduled Start Time: 6:05pm (Pacific Time)
Houston recently had an 0-4 SU/0-3 ATS run and is only 8-25 SU on the road (though 17-15 ATS). The Houston Rockets have dropped the first three game of this 5-game road trip to the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento and Seattle. Houston suffered a 112-82 loss in Seattle on Friday and has dropped its last two games by a combined 53 points. Cuttino Mobley scored 19 points and Steve Francis added 13 on 3-of-15 shooting for the Rockets, who shot just 39 percent (31-of-80). Utah is 22-13 SU, 15-18 ATS at home where they outscore teams by a 98-94 average. Donyell Marshall scored 25 points as Utah beat Golden State 112-103 on Saturday night. After switching to a zone defense in the second quarter, the Jazz took control with a 15-0 run. Karl Malone scored 24 points. "The zone was really good. We are all active and had good hands," said John Stockton, who had 13 points and 15 assists. Good spot for a high scoring OVER game.
Projected Score: UTH Jazz 112, HOU Rockets 100
Matchup Report
Injury Report

LA Clippers 197
SAC Kings -10
Scheduled Start Time: 7:35pm (Pacific Time)
The Clippers are thinking playoffs, but they have to do a better job on the road, where they are 13-22 SU, 14-19 ATS, allowing 98 points per game. Sacramento is an incredible 32-3 SU, 25-10 at home and has a big showdown with the Lakers on Sunday. The Kings were the first team to clinch a playoff spot when the Los Angeles Clippers lost to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. With a trip to the playoffs secure, Sacramento is trying to reach the 50-win plateau in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. The Kings have won seven of their last eight games and extended their latest winning streak to three with a 118-82 victory over the Denver Nuggets on March 21. Hedo Turkoglu recorded career highs with 31 points and 10 assists and Chris Webber scored 20 points. Turkoglu, who started because All-Star guard Peja Stojakovic is sidelined with a hamstring injury, led six players in double figures as Sacramento shot 57 percent (43-of-75) from the field. The last time the Kings played the Lakers at home, they won that game, then played at home the next game and failed to cover (beating the Heat 95-88 as a 9-point favorite). The home team should get the win against a weak road defense of LA.
Projected Score: SAC Kings 114, LA Clippers 99
Matchup Report
Injury Report

CLE Cavaliers 196
LA Lakers -14½
Scheduled Start Time: 7:35pm (Pacific Time)
Cleveland has a winning ATS mark on the road (16-15 ATS), but they are 8-25 SU and still reeling from losing at home to Toronto, 94-80 as a 7-point favorite. Meanwhile, the Lakers have to battle rival Sacramento on Sunday before flying back to LA for this game. The Lakers avoided a three-game losing streak with a 94-82 victory over the Detroit Pistons at the Staples Center on Friday. Shaquille O'Neal scored 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting and Kobe Bryant collected 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Los Angeles is just 1 1/2 games behind Sacramento for the best record in the Western Conference and would clinch a playoff berth with a victory. The Lakers hold all the cards here and will have little trouble.
Projected Score: LA Lakers 106, CLE Cavaliers 88

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